Wayne Miller

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The moviemaker held responsible for the death of camera assistant Sarah Jones has spoken out for the first time after he was hit with charges of involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespass following the fatal accident on the Georgia set of Allman Brothers biopic Midnight Rider last year (14). Randall Miller initially denied the charges, but earlier this month (Mar15), he entered a guilty plea shortly before his trial was due to go ahead.
Under a plea agreement with prosecutors, Miller will serve two years in prison, pay a $25,000 (£16,000) fine and complete 360 hours of community service. He has also agreed to not make any films while he serves his probation.
In a statement obtained by WENN, Miller says, "On February 20th, 2014, a great number of mistakes were made and the terrible accident occurred which took Sarah Jones' life. It was a horrible tragedy that will haunt me forever. Although I relied on my team, it is ultimately my responsibility and was my decision to shoot the scripted scene that caused this tragedy.
"I pleaded guilty for three reasons: first, to protect my wife and family; second, out of respect for the Jones family and to not put them through a difficult trial; and, third, to take responsibility for my failure in not knowing that every safety measure was in place.
"The location manager, the production designer, the unit production manager, the cinematographer, assistant director and others all made mistakes that led to this, but I have taken responsibility because I could have asked more questions and I was the one in charge.
"I have worked in the film industry as a director for 25 years and never had a significant accident of any kind on any one of my sets. I am heartbroken over this. I hope my actions have spared the Jones family more anguish and that the onset safety measures that were lacking before this terrible tragedy will now take precedence for all in the industry."
Miller's wife Jody Savin, who was a producer on the movie, adds, "The accident, which took the life of Sarah Jones, has been tragic for everyone involved. Sarah's family is broken, and ours too. Our children and I love Randy so much and are trying to be strong for him as he has been so strong and brave for us."
Jones was killed when she was hit by an oncoming train on a trestle in Wayne County, while shooting a dream sequence for the film. Video footage posted online shortly after Miller pleaded guilty shows cast and crew members running for their lives along the train tracks as the locomotive that hit Jones speeds towards them.

The parents of tragic camera assistant Sarah Jones are "content" with director Randall Miller's two-year prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the on-set death of their daughter last year (14). The moviemaker was hit with charges of involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespass following the fatal accident on the Georgia set of the Allman Brothers biopic last year (14), when Jones, 27, was hit by a train while shooting footage on railroad tracks in Wayne County.
Miller initially denied the charges, but on Monday (09Mar15), he entered a guilty plea shortly before his trial was due to go ahead, and he will now serve two years in prison, pay a $25,000 (£16,000) fine and complete 360 hours of community service.
He will also spend 10 years on probation.
Following the court appearance on Monday, Sarah Jones' father Richard revealed he and his wife Elizabeth are content with the outcome of Miller's sentencing, stating, "No one won anything today. It's a great deal of loss all around. We are, as much as I can use the word, satisfied with what came of the case... We're not trying to seek revenge. We're really not. Unfortunately, that message needed to be sent."
As part of Miller's plea bargain, the prosecutors agreed to drop charges of involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespass against his wife, producer Jody Savin, while fellow co-defendant, executive producer Jay Sedrish, has been handed probation.

Midnight Rider director Randall Miller has been jailed for two years after pleading guilty to charges stemming from the onset death of camera assistant Sarah Jones. The moviemaker was hit with charges of involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespass following the fatal accident on the Georgia set of the Allman Brothers biopic last year (14), when Jones, 27, was hit by a train while shooting footage on railroad tracks in Wayne County.
Miller initially denied the charges, but on Monday (09Mar15), he entered a guilty plea shortly before his trial was due to go ahead.
Under a plea agreement with prosecutors, Miller will serve two years in prison, pay a $25,000 (£16,000) fine and complete 360 hours of community service. He has also agreed to not make any films while he serves his probation.
As part of the plea bargain, the prosecution team has waived charges of involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespass against Miller's wife, producer Jody Savin.
During Monday's hearing in Georgia, Judge Anthony Harrison addressed Sarah Jones' family, saying, "There's nothing the court could do... to really bring you justice in this case. This was clearly a tragic accident that caused the death of your daughter and sister and granddaughter."

The parents of the camera assistant who was hit by a speeding train and killed while shooting Allman Brothers biopic Midnight Rider earlier this year (14) have settled their civil lawsuit against the producers of the film. Richard and Elizabeth Jones have reached confidential agreements with many of the defendants, including writer/producer Jody Savin and director Randall Miller.
Their daughter Sarah lost her life in a freak accident on the set of the film in rural Georgia, while she was attempting to shoot footage from a trestle in Wayne County.
Executive producers Jay Sedrish and Don Mandrik and location manager Charles Baxter have also reached a settlement with the grieving parents.
Their suit originally listed Gregg Allman, whose memoirs inspired the film, but his name was dropped from the case in October (14).
Filming was halted immediately after the tragedy and William Hurt, who was cast as Gregg Allman in the movie, has since quit the project.
Miller, Savin and Sedrish are still facing involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespass charges. Their case is scheduled to go to trial in March (15). They each face 10 years in prison if found guilty.

Midnight Rider assistant director Hillary Schwartz has pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespassing in connection to the death of Sarah Jones on the set of the Allman Brothers biopic. Schwartz, who became the fourth member of the movie's production group to be charged, was arraigned on Tuesday (30Sep13) at Georgia's Wayne County Superior Court.
A tentative trial date has been set for 9 March (15) for all of the defendants, who could face up to 10 years behind bars under Georgia law if found guilty.
Director Randall Miller and producers Jody Savin and Jay Sedrish have been hit with the same charges and have also pleaded not guilty.
Camera assistant Jones died after she was hit by an oncoming train while filming scenery footage for the movie on a trestle in Georgia back in February (14).
Several civil suits have been filed against Miller, Savin, Sedrish and others linked to the project, which was put on hold following the tragic accident.

The producers of the stalled Allman Brothers biopic have been cited for a "serious safety violation" relating to the death of camera assistant Sarah Jones. Jones was struck and killed by a train while shooting a dream sequence for the film, titled Midnight Rider, on a trestle in Wayne County, Georgia in February (14).
Prosecutors investigating the tragedy filed charges of involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespass against director/producer Randall Miller and producers Jody Savin and Jay Sedrish last month (Jul14), and now officials at the Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) are holding Miller and Savin responsible for "one willful and one serious safety violation" stemming from the 27 year old's death.
Dr. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, says, "Employers are responsible for taking the necessary precautions to protect workers' health and safety, and the entertainment industry is no exception. It is unacceptable that Film Allman LLC knowingly exposed their crew to moving trains while filming on a live track and railroad trestle."
Eight other crew members were also injured in the incident, with many joining Jones' parents in taking civil action against filmmakers.
OSHA authorities suggest Film Allman chiefs should be fined $74,900 (£44,059) for the violations, including exposing employees to "struck-by and fall hazards".
Owners of the company, which is registered to the same address as Miller and his film partner and wife Savin's firm Unclaimed Freight Productions, have 15 business days to appeal the findings.
News of the OSHA's findings emerge hours after Midnight Rider executives filed a legal complaint against their insurers at New York Marine, after they announced they will no longer honour their policy to cover incidents onset when filming resumes.
Production on Midnight Rider, based on the memoir of Gregg Allman, has been on hold since Jones' death.

Filmmakers Randall Miller and Jody Savin have broken their silence following the death of a camera assistant on their Allman Brothers biopic Midnight Rider, insisting they have committed no crime. Director Miller and his writer/producer wife were shooting a dream sequence on a train trestle in Wayne County, Georgia in February (14) when an oncoming train disrupted filming. Sarah Jones lost her life when the train hit her.
The filmmakers, who surrendered to local authorities on Sunday (13Jul14), have pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges filed against them, and now they've released a statement through their attorney.
Miller and Savin write, "In the weeks and months that follow when the true facts of the events are revealed, people will know that this was not a crime: we never had criminal intent; we would never knowingly or intentionally put anybody’s safety at risk. This was a horrible tragedy and a horrific accident.
"We have remained silent out of respect for the family of Sarah Jones, their loved ones and all of the crew who were injured on that very sad day.
"Our hearts are broken, our spirits are broken. We have young children and can only imagine with immense sadness the heartbreak of losing a child. We are praying for Sarah’s family."
A third producer, Jay Sedrish, turned himself in to police in Georgia on Thursday (17Jul14).
The trio has been indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespass.
Several civil suits have also been filed against MIller, Savin, Sedrish and other individuals and entities associated with the film.

Film producer Jay Sedrish has turned himself in to police in Georgia four days after his associates, Jody Savin and Randall Miller, surrendered to authorities for their part in the death of a camera assistant on the set of Allman Brothers biopic Midnight Rider.
The trio has been indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespass in connection to the death of 27-year-old Sarah Jones, who was killed while trying to escape an oncoming train as they shot footage for the film in Wayne County in February (14).
Sedrish, the project's executive producer and production manager, surrendered to police on Thursday (17Jul14). He was released after posting $27,700 (£16,300) bond.
Miller and Savin turned themselves in on Sunday (13Jul14) and were also released. The trio faces up to 10 years behind bars for involuntary manslaughter under Georgia law.
Production on Midnight Rider was halted immediately after the tragedy.

Director Randall Miller and his producer wife Jody Savin have been released on bail after surrendering to police in Georgia. The couple and fellow producer Jay Sedrish were charged with involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespass related to the death of a camera assistant on the set of their Allman Brothers biopic Midnight Rider.
Sarah Jones, 27, was hit by a train and killed in February (14) as the production crew shot footage on railroad tracks in Wayne County. Six other crew members were also injured.
Miller and Savin turned themselves in to cops on Sunday (13Jul14) and were each freed on $27,000 (£15,882) bail.
Executive producer Sedrish has yet to surrender to authorities.
The trio faces up to 10 years behind bars if convicted of involuntary manslaughter, while the criminal trespass misdemeanour could land Miller and the producers 12 months in prison.
Production on the movie, based on the memoirs of Gregg Allman, was halted following the train tragedy.

Director Randall Miller has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespass following the death of a camera assistant on the Georgia set of the Allman Brothers biopic. Sarah Jones, 27, was hit by a train and killed in February (14) as the production crew shot footage for Midnight Rider on railroad tracks in Wayne County. Six other crew members were also injured.
A criminal investigation was launched and now the Wayne County District Attorney has indicted Miller, his producer wife Jody Savin and the film's executive producer Jay Sedrish on the two counts amid allegations they failed to secure a permit to shoot on the train tracks.
The charge of involuntary manslaughter carries a sentence of up to 10 years behind bars, while the criminal trespass misdemeanour could land Miller and the producers 12 months in prison.
Production on the movie, based on the memoirs of Gregg Allman, was halted following the train tragedy and the subsequent exit of lead actor William Hurt, who had been set to portray the rocker. Hurt had previously expressed his concerns about safety on the Wayne County set in an email to a friend, days before Jones' death.
The criminal charges are not the only legal woes for Miller - Jones' parents filed a civil suit against the movie's filmmakers in May (14), and a number of other crew members involved in the accident have lodged official complaints.
News of the indictment emerges days after stars including Heather Locklear, Nina Dobrev and Sam Underwood joined a group of Hollywood crew members to film a public service announcement (PSA) in Jones' memory. The short film calls for increased safety measures on film and TV sets.